Yesterday, in the H&I Fires post, I put up a link to a breaking story in New Jersey. The lede in the story was this:
"Except for the fact that you don't have much ammunition around... "
Heh. Depends on how you define "much." To most people, I have a vast amount. To pure hunters, especially the country club set, I have vast amounts. To serious sport shooters, I don't have much at all, and howcum I don't load my own to achieve perfect shot nirvana? The hunters will ask that latter question, too.
But especially to Joe and Jane UrbanSixpack, I have a lot of ammo - several thousand rounds, especially of .223, 7.62x39/51/54, 8mm Mauser, 30-06 and .303 British, with lesser amounts of .45, 9mm, 38 S&W, 7.62 Tokarev, and token amounts of numerous other calibers, such as 7.5 French, 6.5 Swede, 7.7 Jap, .45-70 Gov't, and .577 Snider...
"I think the anti-gun fanatics simply equate firearms possession with ill-intent and therefore, once you amass enough firearms, you're clearly an evil person who is just mass murder waiting to happen."
It isn't just the anti-gun fanatics, Josh. A founding purpose of this blog was to show people that the guy next door could have a basement full of guns, and that he can be a moderately normal and productive member of society, and not a threat to you or themselves, and someone you can trust around your kids. Sadly, I have had just the opposite impact for the bayonet collecting community... making *them* look like low-functioning 'tards. [Still #1 in Google!]
Heh. Me being a gun nut has actually moderated my sister's views on the subject, as we have discussed the issue among us. She would be counted among the "Why could you *possibly* ever have a need (heh, mistake to let them have *that* construct unchallenged) or desire for that many guns? How many is enough? You know, mebbe all that "diversity" stuff is a good idea, huh? Getting exposed to people who are "different" from you. Too bad blogs don't really do that, being most often self-reinforcing bubbles hostile to outside the blogmain view.
Because the media doesn't often run stories about collections like mine. Partially because people who have them don't want them advertised like that... and partially because we know that likely any story that does run with it will somehow be paired "for balance" with some tragedy.
I did a presentation once, for my Rotary Club, back after I had first joined. It was entitled "Nuts in your neighborhood."
Trying to answer the age-old question:
Because you'll always hear about the Theodore Kaczynski, or Brian Hinkles. You'll hear about Kaczynski being convicted - but you'll almost never read a follow-up on someone who had the charges dropped, who was acquitted, or, most importantly, the guy with the collection who lives next door to you that you never even know about.
People know about mine. Yes, that adds risk, which I mititgate in other ways. But I think it's important that people know about people like SWWBO and I - and that while we may not be on every block, we're far more common than most of you realize. But the dominant media culture causes us to keep our heads down. Not us.
And, well, we aren't bluffing, either.
There were other reasons - to be an adjunct to the MSM, to fill in the details on military subjects that they either got wrong or didn't have the time, space, or inclination to include.
And, well, you can't do guns and military without rampaging through politics.
So, it's been years since I've run the Standard Disclaimers..
Navigate the collection:
Visitors should also note the following caveats:
Periodic Goblin Warning (SM) As a service to Goblins who are considering Seizing The Arsenal. [This warning specifically excludes LE types: y'all come with a warrant, knock [no no-knocks, please, the front door is expensive], take what the warrant specifies and we'll talk about it in court - just please take care of 'em, you know, periodic cleaning, oiling, etc. They're used to being spoiled like that]
Here is a periodic warning on Why Trying To Steal My Collection Isn't A Good Idea. Note to thieves trying to figure out where I live: Once you do that, you've got to get past the living interior and exterior guard, the security system (hint, cutting the phone and cable WON'T help), and finally, if I'm home - me. WonderWife (TM) v3.x is also right handy with the Winchester M97 trench gun. I like that one because it's handy, will blow you into large chunks, but not pass through the walls of the house to annoy my neighbors. Hardwood floors, so clean-up is easy. I'm a reasonable fellow, if you surrender meekly or run away, that will be fine. Not interested in killing or maiming anyone unless you are dumb enough to attack me or my family. The furry members count as family, BTW. Do that, then I will clean the gene pool. Plus guys, impressive as it looks, it's not as valuable as you might think - and it would be very hard to move, since you would be flooding the local market. Not to mention the fact that every dealer within a (classified) radius would have a list of serial numbers and descriptions within 24 hours (ain't the internet great?). Oh, yeah - did I mention that robbing licensees is a federal offense? The feds don't go overboard after little stuff, but whacking this collection would likely garner their interest - so please, choose your accomodations before you begin! Plus 'bangers won't like these gun - the ones that look like they can shoot a lot - can't, and many of them won't work properly if you hold them sideways like they do in the movies. So, go find an easier target, eh? No - better yet - get a real job that has better fringes.
Periodic Disclaimer for anti-gunners and law enforcement surfers (I don't mind you LE types) Heck, I don't mind the anti-gun types until they start trying to send LE types to take 'em away... here we go with the Periodic Disclaimer (TM): Everything you ever see in photos here that I own is fully legal to own, federal, state, and local - WHERE I LIVE! Your mileage may vary, such as living in the Borg Collectives of California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, etc. Though ya might be surprised to find out what's legal where you live. I am a licensed collector (which isn't a license to collect, just to receive via the mails), and that only applies to curio and relic firearms. Fortunately, that's about all I want to own. On these pages I will from time to time share my toys, much like Kim du Toit used to do.
Josh commented thusly:State police have seized a huge cache of weapons, including semi-automatic rifles, and more than a half-million rounds of ammunition at a home in Franklin Township, Gloucester County.
Except for the fact that you don't have much ammunition around, how would this be any different from the police showing up at YOUR door for something unrelated? (This is of course assuming that Brian Hinkle's weapons are legal).
I think the anti-gun fanatics simply equate firearms possession with ill-intent and therefore, once you amass enough firearms, you're clearly an evil person who is just mass murder waiting to happen.
"Except for the fact that you don't have much ammunition around... "
Heh. Depends on how you define "much." To most people, I have a vast amount. To pure hunters, especially the country club set, I have vast amounts. To serious sport shooters, I don't have much at all, and howcum I don't load my own to achieve perfect shot nirvana? The hunters will ask that latter question, too.
But especially to Joe and Jane UrbanSixpack, I have a lot of ammo - several thousand rounds, especially of .223, 7.62x39/51/54, 8mm Mauser, 30-06 and .303 British, with lesser amounts of .45, 9mm, 38 S&W, 7.62 Tokarev, and token amounts of numerous other calibers, such as 7.5 French, 6.5 Swede, 7.7 Jap, .45-70 Gov't, and .577 Snider...
"I think the anti-gun fanatics simply equate firearms possession with ill-intent and therefore, once you amass enough firearms, you're clearly an evil person who is just mass murder waiting to happen."
It isn't just the anti-gun fanatics, Josh. A founding purpose of this blog was to show people that the guy next door could have a basement full of guns, and that he can be a moderately normal and productive member of society, and not a threat to you or themselves, and someone you can trust around your kids. Sadly, I have had just the opposite impact for the bayonet collecting community... making *them* look like low-functioning 'tards. [Still #1 in Google!]
Heh. Me being a gun nut has actually moderated my sister's views on the subject, as we have discussed the issue among us. She would be counted among the "Why could you *possibly* ever have a need (heh, mistake to let them have *that* construct unchallenged) or desire for that many guns? How many is enough? You know, mebbe all that "diversity" stuff is a good idea, huh? Getting exposed to people who are "different" from you. Too bad blogs don't really do that, being most often self-reinforcing bubbles hostile to outside the blogmain view.
Because the media doesn't often run stories about collections like mine. Partially because people who have them don't want them advertised like that... and partially because we know that likely any story that does run with it will somehow be paired "for balance" with some tragedy.
I did a presentation once, for my Rotary Club, back after I had first joined. It was entitled "Nuts in your neighborhood."
Trying to answer the age-old question:
Because you'll always hear about the Theodore Kaczynski, or Brian Hinkles. You'll hear about Kaczynski being convicted - but you'll almost never read a follow-up on someone who had the charges dropped, who was acquitted, or, most importantly, the guy with the collection who lives next door to you that you never even know about.
People know about mine. Yes, that adds risk, which I mititgate in other ways. But I think it's important that people know about people like SWWBO and I - and that while we may not be on every block, we're far more common than most of you realize. But the dominant media culture causes us to keep our heads down. Not us.
And, well, we aren't bluffing, either.
There were other reasons - to be an adjunct to the MSM, to fill in the details on military subjects that they either got wrong or didn't have the time, space, or inclination to include.
And, well, you can't do guns and military without rampaging through politics.
So, it's been years since I've run the Standard Disclaimers..
Navigate the collection:
- Rifles
- Pistols
- Sub-machine Guns
- Machine Guns
- Gun P0rn: A Naughty Expose' of the fiddly-bits.
- Artillery
- Grenades
- Helmets
- Ammunition
- General Militaria
- Guns by Nation
Visitors should also note the following caveats:
Periodic Goblin Warning (SM) As a service to Goblins who are considering Seizing The Arsenal. [This warning specifically excludes LE types: y'all come with a warrant, knock [no no-knocks, please, the front door is expensive], take what the warrant specifies and we'll talk about it in court - just please take care of 'em, you know, periodic cleaning, oiling, etc. They're used to being spoiled like that]
Here is a periodic warning on Why Trying To Steal My Collection Isn't A Good Idea. Note to thieves trying to figure out where I live: Once you do that, you've got to get past the living interior and exterior guard, the security system (hint, cutting the phone and cable WON'T help), and finally, if I'm home - me. WonderWife (TM) v3.x is also right handy with the Winchester M97 trench gun. I like that one because it's handy, will blow you into large chunks, but not pass through the walls of the house to annoy my neighbors. Hardwood floors, so clean-up is easy. I'm a reasonable fellow, if you surrender meekly or run away, that will be fine. Not interested in killing or maiming anyone unless you are dumb enough to attack me or my family. The furry members count as family, BTW. Do that, then I will clean the gene pool. Plus guys, impressive as it looks, it's not as valuable as you might think - and it would be very hard to move, since you would be flooding the local market. Not to mention the fact that every dealer within a (classified) radius would have a list of serial numbers and descriptions within 24 hours (ain't the internet great?). Oh, yeah - did I mention that robbing licensees is a federal offense? The feds don't go overboard after little stuff, but whacking this collection would likely garner their interest - so please, choose your accomodations before you begin! Plus 'bangers won't like these gun - the ones that look like they can shoot a lot - can't, and many of them won't work properly if you hold them sideways like they do in the movies. So, go find an easier target, eh? No - better yet - get a real job that has better fringes.
Periodic Disclaimer for anti-gunners and law enforcement surfers (I don't mind you LE types) Heck, I don't mind the anti-gun types until they start trying to send LE types to take 'em away... here we go with the Periodic Disclaimer (TM): Everything you ever see in photos here that I own is fully legal to own, federal, state, and local - WHERE I LIVE! Your mileage may vary, such as living in the Borg Collectives of California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, etc. Though ya might be surprised to find out what's legal where you live. I am a licensed collector (which isn't a license to collect, just to receive via the mails), and that only applies to curio and relic firearms. Fortunately, that's about all I want to own. On these pages I will from time to time share my toys, much like Kim du Toit used to do.
Harrumph. Trolling, were you?
especially of .223, 7.62x39/51/54, 8mm Mauser, 30-06 and .303 British, with lesser amounts of .45, 9mm, 38 S&W, 7.62 Tokarev, and token amounts of numerous other calibers, such as 7.5 French, 6.5 Swede, 7.7 Jap, .45-70 Gov't, and .577 Snider...
Oooooooooh...
What do you have that fires 8mm Mauser? Gewehr 43?
And there's something inexplicably cool about .577 Snider, just looking at it makes me all tingly...I think it's because bottlenecked cartridges on such a large scale (anything over .50, really) are nearly nonexistent...
This is a toxic issue, therefore, let's try to shed some light on it. Supposedly, the individual is a medically retired policeman and has been for 23 years. Supposedly, they found 259 firearms with more ammunition, than most gun shops. NJ State Police and ATF have been called in to execute a search warrant. There are many questions. There are questions about his disability, but I'm not going there. The big question, how and when did he acquire these firearms and ammunition?
My big question, how old is the ammunition and where are you storing it?
Check-
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/185/story/388163.html
Josh - any number of Mauser rifles, plus a Hakim. The Hakim is fun to shoot. As long as you're doing the shooting. If you're on either side of that pepperpot muzzle break... not so much!
As far as age of ammo- depending on storage conditions over the years, and original quality, stuff back through WW2 is still quite reliable. Of course, some Slobovian stuff only a few years old can be junk, so age alone is not the best cirteria to judge serviceability.
For home storage, plain old GI ammo cans are fine. There is little risk from storing even large quantities of small arms ammo, even in case of a fire. The average "stuff" filled home garage with a couple of cans of gas for lawn mowers, a propane tank for a BBQ a small propane torch or camp stove and a few cans of spray paint or bug spray has about the same potential for burning and throwing stray bits and pieces a few paces. Small arms ammo in a fire does not go "shooting" off great distances as if it were fired from a gun. Any solid surface stronger than a cardboard box will pretty well stop any bits or pieces of cartridge case or primers blown out of the case. Ignore the hysterical accounts in the media or movie scenes which show huge secondary explosions if some small arms ammo is on fire. [Larger ammunition with explosive projectiles is an entirely different story, but that stuff is basically illegal, so none of us need worry about it.]
.577 Snider is straight cased, unlike the 577/450 Martini-Henry which was also a Boxer case, but bottlenecked. That said, it is cool looking.
What I like is the fact that the blanks for both are interchangeable as they are only as long as the 577 parent part of the 577/450.
"I thought that only rich people could have shooting as a hobby; this looks almost cheap!" "Well, shooting .22, it's about two cents a round. Ammo, cleaning supplies, batteries for the earmuffs, targets." "Batteries?" ... gentle safety lecture follows, showing the difference between the "target shooting culture" and the gangsta culture, benchrest, cowboy ... I don't get everyone hooked, by a long shot, but I've gotten a few. And moved many more from passionate anti-gun to "it's a hobby, leave them alone."
I'm perfectly willing to let law enforcement do its job in any specific case, and wish them the well of it, as long as they are playing by the rules.
I'm not making a judgement on Hinkle's specific case. If he's innocent, I hope it turns out well for him.
My point was countering/offering up a different narrative to the one generally offered by LE and the Press, which is "Oooo! Scary! Lots of Guns! Lots of Bullets! Bunker! Assault Rifles! Semi-Automatic weapons! WWII military-style arms!"
All of which is true, but in the context presented is "Danger Will Robinson! Danger!" "Scary!"
My counterpoint is that all of that description, less the slant and hyperbole, applies to my basement. And if, for some reason, I were the subject of LE interest, they could well characterize my vault as "a bunker-like storage area!"
I'm just throwing it out there that not everybody, not even most, of the people who have basements like mine are a threat. And you have no idea how many of us there actually are.
I'm not defending or attacking Mr Hinkle or the Jersey law enforcement guys.
I'm just sayin' that there can be perfectly valid explanations for the same situation that don't involve bad motives or actors.
That is actually the subtitle of the autobiography - "The Other Mr. Churchill" - the gunmaker and original forensic scientist.
Message received, for me, issue closed. Thank you, for your counsel.
V/R Grumpy
So, keep at it!
.577 Snider is straight cased, unlike the 577/450 Martini-Henry
Ah yes, my mistake. I can never keep the two straight.
I'm not saying everything must go, But there are some nagging questions, thing just don't make sense. We have a medically retired policeman, living, on a fixed income, They can account for 259 rifles and over half a million rounds of ammunition. He has black powder for reloading. He has an underground bunker for the ammunition. There were no .22's, this was all the more exotic weaponry. There are many more questions to be answered.
I don't know how much money he has available and how little you could acquire such stuff for, or even how long he has been amassing it...but I don't like to be to quick to jump on the "Poor people can't afford that, he must be a criminal!" card. It's possible, but I prefer give the guy the benefit of the doubt until I see SOME evidence otherwise.